Harvesting machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a harvesting machine. A harvesting machine is disclosed in which a tunnel defining member is supported on a mobile structure such that when the mobile structure is moved through the vineyard, the tunnel defining member passes over a row of vine stocks. Mounted within each tunnel defining member are a plurality of thresher members, or beaters, which have extending vertically spaced flexible bush engaging rods. These rods selectively engage the vines in a directed motion to harvest the fruit from the fruit bearing stocks. Means, in the form of a transversely oscillating flexible lateral deflecting lining, are used to direct the harvested fruit in a predetermined direction. Selective placement of the thresher members results in separation of said harvested crop according to the aging of the crop.

I claim: 
     
       1. A mobile crop harvesting machine having drive means and comprising: a driven mobile chassis;   a frame structure mounted on said chassis, said frame structure having one end portion defining a tunnel member in the shape of a downwardly open "U" and an opposite end portion defining a housing;   at least one oscillating arm member connected to said drive means and mounted to said tunnel member, said at least one oscillating arm member further comprising: at least two substantially vertical thresher members mounted to said oscillating arm member;   a plurality of beaters mounted to said substantially vertical thresher members for movement therewith;   a first means for recovering a crop, said recovery means having one end attached to said tunnel member and an opposite end attached to one of said beater members;   a second means for recovering said crop mounted on the lower end of said housing and in spaced relationship to said first recovery means, said second recovery means communicating with said first recovery means, said second recovery means further comprising: a means for processing said crop mounted on and within said housing, said processing means communicating with said second recovery means, said processing means further having means for selectively separating the harvested crop according to the aging of said crop.       
     
     
       2. A harvesting machine according to claim 1 wherein said at least two substantially vertical thresher members further comprise: oscillating means interposed said thresher members and said arm member, said oscillating means communicating with said vertical thresher members whereby said vertical thresher members adopt a transverse oscillating movement around a vertical axis.   
     
     
       3. A harvesting machine according to claim 2 wherein said transverse oscillating motion of one of said at least two substantially vertical thresher members is synchronized with said transverse oscillating motion of said other of said at least two substantially vertical thresher members. 
     
     
       4. A harvesting machine according to claim 1 wherein said at least two substantially vertical thresher members are located in a face-to-face relationship. 
     
     
       5. The harvesting machine according to claim 1 wherein said at least two substantially vertical thresher members are located on either side of said harvested crop in a non face-to-face relationship. 
     
     
       6. The harvesting machine according to claim 1 wherein one of said two substantially vertical thresher members further comprises: a substantially horizontal bar member mounted to one of said substantially vertical thresher members interposed said second recovery means and said plurality of beater members;   means for attaching one end of said first recovery means to said substantially horizontal bar, said attaching means permitting said rear edge of said first recovery means to move freely with said substantially horizontal bar;   means for oscillating said substantially horizontal bar member; and   means for mounting said substantially horizontal bar member to one of said thresher members for movement therewith.   
     
     
       7. The harvesting machine according to claim 1 wherein said first recovery means further comprises: a resilient lining having one end attached to said tunnel member and an opposite end attached to one of said beater members; and   a front substantially vertical edge being under tension under the action of a resilient means fixed between said one end of said lining and said opposite end, said lining further having a rear substantially vertical edge having its upper extremity fixed to said tunnel member and its lower extremity attached to one of said beater members.   
     
     
       8. The harvesting machine according to claim 1 wherein said first recovery means further compises: a resilient lining having one end attached to said tunnel member and an opposite end attached to said substantially horizontal bar member; and   a front substantially vertical edge being under tension under the action of a resilient means fixed between said one end of said lining and said opposite end, said lining further having a rear substantially vertical edge having its upper extremity fixed to said tunnel member and its lower extremity attached to said substantially horizontal bar member.   
     
     
       9. The harvesting machine according to claim 7 wherein said resilient lining sweeps a volume defined by said front substantially vertical edge, said one end of said lining attached to said tunnel member, said opposite end attached to said one of said beater members and said rear edge during the oscillation of said one of said thresher members. 
     
     
       10. The harvesting machine according to claim 7 wherein said resilient lining sweeps a volume defined by said front substantially vertical edge, said one end of said lining attached to said tunnel member, said opposite end attached to said substantially vertical bar member and said rear edge during the oscillation of said one of said thresher members. 
     
     
       11. The harvesting machine according to claim 6 wherein said substantially horizontal bar member has one of its extremities fixed on a vertical plate carrying said one of said beater members and an opposite extremity directed toward the rear and the center of said machine free to rotate along a vertical plane to that defined by said plurality of beater members mounted to said thresher member. 
     
     
       12. A harvesting machine according to claim 1 wherein said first recovery means is arranged to collect all of said harvested crop toward one side of said downwardly open "U" shaped tunnel member. 
     
     
       13. A harvesting machine according to claim 1 wherein said processing means further includes conveyor means for selectively separating said harvested crop according to the aging of said crop. 
     
     
       14. A harvesting machine according to claim 1 wherein said first recovery means selectively directs said crop to either side of said downwardly "U" shaped tunnel member according to the aging of said crop.